Gov. Evers Responds to Republicans’ Decision to Back Out of Bipartisan Budget Negotiations

MADISON — Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature on Wednesday backed out of months’ worth of bipartisan budget negotiations with Gov. Tony Evers toward reaching bipartisan compromise on the 2025-27 Biennial Budget. Despite having secured the governor’s support for Republicans’ half of the proposal, which included an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees, Republican lawmakers are unable to reach consensus with their caucuses in order to support the governor’s half of the proposal, which included meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin (UW) System.

Republicans’ decision to cease discussions comes after meetings between Gov. Evers and Republican leaders, as well as several staff-level meetings with leaders, have occurred over the span of several months and ramped up in recent weeks, including meetings every day this week.

Gov. Evers today released the following statement responding to Republican leaders’ decision:

“I am grateful to the legislators and legislative staff for their efforts over the past several weeks to reach a bipartisan agreement that would have delivered on key priorities for Wisconsinites.

“The concept of compromise is simple—everyone gets something they want, and no one gets everything they want.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities—even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed—because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids.

“Unfortunately, Republicans couldn’t agree to support the top priorities in my half of the deal, which included meaningful investments for K-12 schools, to continue Child Care Counts to help lower the cost of child care for working families, and to prevent further campus closures and layoffs at our UW System. So, today, Republicans decided not to move forward with any more bipartisan negotiations with me.

“We’ve spent months trying to have real, productive conversations with Republican lawmakers in hopes of finding compromise and passing a state budget that everyone could support—and that, most importantly, delivers for the people of Wisconsin. I am admittedly disappointed that Republican lawmakers aren’t willing to reach consensus and common ground and have decided to move forward without bipartisan support instead.

“I will always try to do the right thing—and compromise in order to get good things done. Wisconsinites expect their elected officials to show up, act in good faith, and work together across the aisle to get things done—that’s what I’ve been committed to doing in these bipartisan negotiations from the get-go, and that remains my commitment.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.